SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 35

(By Senators Stollings, Plymale, Gaunch, Sypolt, Kessler and Prezioso)

[Introduced February 12, 2016.]

Requesting that the West Virginia Legislature proclaim the week of March 7 through March 13, 2016, to be MS Awareness Week, and commend observance of the week and to encourage all West Virginians to learn more about multiple sclerosis and what they can do to support individuals with MS and their families.

Whereas, Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease of the central nervous system affecting at least 2.3 million people worldwide; and 

Whereas, The National Multiple Sclerosis Society reports that in our state, we serve more than 3000 people diagnosed with MS, and that the disease generally strikes people in the prime of life, between ages 20 through 50, and causes unpredictable effects in which the progression, severity and specific symptoms cannot be foreseen, and the cause and cure for this often debilitating disease remain unknown; and

Whereas, The National Multiple Sclerosis Society has been committed for more than 70 years to creating a world free of MS, heightening public knowledge about and insight into the disease while mobilizing people and resources so that everyone affected by MS can live their best lives as we stop MS in its tracks, restore what has been lost and end MS forever; and

Whereas, Since 1946 the National Multiple Sclerosis Society has been a driving force of MS research, relentlessly pursuing prevention, treatment and a cure and has invested more than  $920 million in groundbreaking research; and

Whereas, Funds raised through the National Multiple Sclerosis Society fuel the efforts of  more than 380 research projects globally totaling nearly $54 million annually at the best medical centers, universities and other institutions throughout the United States and abroad. Because of this, MS research has never been more hopeful than it is today; and

Whereas, Discovering the cause, finding a cure, and preventing future generations from being diagnosed with MS is an important task that all Americans support; and

Whereas, the State of West Virginia recognizes the importance of finding the cause and cure of MS, a chronic and often devastating disease, and expresses its appreciation and admiration for the dedication that the National Multiple Sclerosis Society has shown toward a future free of MS; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the week of March 7 through March 13, 2016, is hereby proclaimed to be MS Awareness Week, and commend observance of the week and to encourage all West Virginians to learn more about multiple sclerosis and what they can do to support individuals with MS and their families; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby requested to forward a copy of this resolution to the representatives of MS Awareness.